Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Wolff | Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, a Medal of Honor recipient, talks to Soldiers at...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government to service members who distinguish themselves through gallantry and intrepidity, risking his or her life above and beyond the call of duty against enemies of the United States of America.
Two such heroes, Medal of Honor recipients retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary L. Littrell visited U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to share their experiences of valor with Joint Task Force Guantanamo service members at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Liberty Center in Camp America, and throughout the naval station.
Both retired Soldiers travel around the country and overseas visiting service members, telling their stories and talking about the importance of patriotism, leadership, democracy and the history of the Medal of Honor.
"We just go around the country to extend our appreciation for your service," Howard said. "We are privileged; this medal that I wear around my neck is for all service members."
Howard is arguably one of the most highly-decorated service members in American history, with a list of awards and decorations that would impress any experienced service member. He served five tours in Vietnam and has been nominated three times for the Medal of Honor for three different heroic actions during a 13-month period. By today's law, only one Medal can be issued to any one person in their lifetime, regardless of how many heroic acts they have performed.
Littrell's list of heroics, awards and decorations are equally impressive from his tour in Vietnam. Both Howard and Littrell risked their own lives to save the lives of others by taking charge of their unit, engaging with the enemy during a fierce battle, caring for the wounded and evacuating their Soldiers to safety.
"The best advice I can give to young men and women in the military today, and especially our young leaders, is to make sure before you deploy into a combat zone that your service members are properly trained," Littrell said. "Training is everything and everything is training."
These stories left the audience speechless and astounded at the heroic acts that saved the lives of the men's comrades during the battles in which they both served.
"One of the biggest things they mentioned was about taking care of your service members, not yourself, and that's one of the things people needed to learn if you're here for them and not for yourself," said Army Master Sgt. Jose Alicea.
Some of the service members in the audience could relate to their stories through their own experiences while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
"I am just in awe being in their presence and [the fact] that some of them are still alive to receive this honor," said Army Capt. Kathy Babin. "Just listening to Col. Howard, it brought me back to that moment when I was deployed and my first thought was about taking care of my Soldiers."
The Medal of Honor was established in December 1861, and since then has been awarded to 3,447 recipients, of which 95 recipients are still alive today. There have been 19 double recipients of the Medal of Honor.
Howard told his audience that commitment to your service members and doing the right thing is important. The message they brought to the service members of Guantanamo was the importance of patriotism and leadership, which they both spoke about repeatedly.
When each of the Medal of Honor recipients was asked about his own heroism and what inspired them to do what they did, both modestly replied "This was something that had to be done at the time."
Both Howard and Littrell travel extensively every year visiting service members worldwide to boost morale and share their experiences, talk about patriotism and the love they have for this country.
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2009 11:00 |
| Story ID: | 37493 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 192 |
This work, Honor, Valor, Courage, by SFC Steven Rougeau, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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